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I don't really get what your point is. I was aware that Bill Gates had given away at least half his money, given that he's still been left with more money than
by wlll 6y ago
I don't really get what your point is.
I was aware that Bill Gates had given away at least half his money, given that he's still been left with more money than he could ever need by some large margin I'm not too interested in making him some sort of saint just yet.
- eloff 6y agoIt's easy to be a critic, tell me, what have you done for the world that gives you that lofty moral high ground?
- wlll 6y agoWhat is your point? I have to be perfect before I can criticise other things or people? I happen to be trying to make enough money so I can safely retire, hopefully before my mind and/or sight gives out, and so I can send my kids to uni. If I gave half my money away I'd be substantially poorer. If I Bill Gates gave half his wealth away, he likely wouldn't notice the difference.
- eloff 6y agoYou're criticizing Bill Gates because he hasn't done enough in your mind? He certainly did more than you or I, even from a perspective of relative means. Maybe be a little more generous when you're judging other people, because you have a much lower standard for judging yourself.
- wlll 6y agoI'm criticising two things. 1. People with so much money that they have enough to save thousands of people from starving to death, or dieing from prevantable diseases etc. etc. without ever noticing the difference to their wellbeing. 2. The fetishisation of people who give an irrelevant amount of their wealth away. There are literally people alive today who won't be in a week or more because they don't have enough money, and these people could save them and they would never notice. All the difference to them would be the tiny change in a number on a balance sheet.
- eloff 6y agoThere are literally people alive today who won't be next week because they don't have enough money, and YOU could save ONE of them and the only difference would be a tiny change in a number in your savings account. What's your excuse? Don't you see the hypocrisy here? He's not doing enough by your very high standards, but you don't judge yourself by those same standards.
- wlll 6y agoI could, but it would materially change my outlook for a comfortable/safe future. It wouldn't for the super rich. That's kinda the point. Me: I could help people, but it would weaken my future outlook The Super Rich: Could help many people and they would never notice The fact that someone who could never be be materially affected by improving the lives of others (for instance, treating warehouse staff better), but doesn't, is the key here.
- eloff 6y agoNo, there are people you could save for a couple dollars a day. It won't affect your life either. It's the exact same thing. You're continuing with the hypocrisy. When you can answer honestly why you don't do that, you'll have an idea why the super rich also don't do that. There's not just one reason, and maybe the answer makes you uncomfortable when you weigh your justifications against the value of a human life. But it is what it is.